Jonathan P. Smith

I grew up in Mississippi, spent a couple of decades trying to get away, and realized I should embrace it, talk about it, and make documentaries.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

@RyanAFournier Yes, we remember the Obama economy that Trump destroyed.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

@Grover It's perfect.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

@TCBPubHealth Little late, hopefully, but this is a good starting point for getting some recompense: https://t.co/MMC4dhtIdR

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

@StaceyJSpiehler Lena's Pizza and Bagels in Cleveland. Not "traditional"Delta fare but it's good.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

Excellent!

[john r stanton @dcbigjohn]

New Orleans Public Library launches Crescent City Sounds, free music streaming platform highlighting local musicians https://t.co/AEYPVRhIzT via @The_Gambit

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

If you pretend everything is fine and dandy, things will never get better.

[Hardy Case @hardycase1]

Folks like us who point out problems in Mississippi do so because we love her.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

Go read the whole thread. Step 1 is learning, but don't forget step 2 is doing.

[Kevin Fox @michigrim.bsky.social @Michigrimk]

There’s a great bit in Patton Oswalt’s Silver Screen Fiend when he goes into detail about a trap he fell into where he viewed consuming media as preparation for making his own shit and then just fell into a rut because he forgot the second part.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

@atownbrown08 @nytimes No, I mean the mayor. It is an ongoing issue exacerbated by the state government, ignoring the city mayor in favor of the state governor isn't really getting the whole story in this case.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

Many staff members at Universities also have advanced degrees and make significantly less than faculty.

[eKy mutual aid @ekymutualaid]

it is unbelievable y’all. the damages to our hills and hollers will take years to mend. and a whole lot of hands at work. we have been stepping up, spreading the word, loading up trucks and throwing in donations from all across the state/nation. it’s amazing. my heart aches.

[Appodlachia @appodlachia]

If you're scrolling past this, STOP 🛑

Here are ways you can help Kentuckians who are suffering from life-altering flooding 🧵

[PikevillePride @PikevillePride]

Some stats and numbers for y’all.
- 13 counties
- estimated 130,000+ people affected
- living in 5,500+ square miles of land affected, which is larger than the land area of Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island
- historic crest of the North Fork of Kentucky River 1/x

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

Eastern Kentucky needs help, there's lots of things you can do.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

There's the local admonition (among white people, anyway) to only tell "happy stories" about the now.

The outside world only seems to see the angry-poor-racist-white or the poor-helpless-black stereotypes.

I want to complicate both of those.

#artiststatement I guess.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

What do you *not* photograph or film, and why do you avoid these things?
#documentary #photography #Filmmaking
https://t.co/BAtJHBkafL

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

My own changes, but something that is developing more and more is a desire to avoid the stereotypes of rural poverty and conservatism. I'm a native Mississippian who's lived outside the state and returned.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

Yep. Go read the replies. If you're pulling in 6, 7, or 8 figures in revenue you need to be paying folks. There's a difference between helping other artists and taking advantage of other artists.

[Julian Glander @glanderco]

a few years ago i made some album art for this guy and he offered to pay me $75 but it would have to wait because he worked at McDonald’s and wouldn’t get paid until the next week. I think abt that every time a huge multi billion dollar company reaches out and has “no budget”

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

Yes, exactly.

[Jonathan P. Smith @docusmith]

If you're a #documentary filmmaker, all yourself how you can avoid being part of the #echochamber - and let me know if you figure that out.

#storytelling with a purpose is difficult.